Vintage tables

bogiedr · « **on:** 9 Oct 2010, 03:43 am »

Greetings everyone!
I am interested in adding a second table to my system. I am considering a vintage Micro Seiki BL 91 and a vintage Rotel, can not remember the model. Anyone here experienced with either?

Good, bad, indiferent?

My Luxman / Clearaudio would stay the same. A mc cartdridge would be added to the second table

Any input greatly appreciated!!
Hit them straight,
BogieDr

neobop · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Oct 2010, 11:25 am »

Hi,
I don't have experience with these, but the BL-91 looks like a nice deck.
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/micro-seiki/bl-91.shtml

neo

AudioSoul · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 06:06 pm »

I would go with the Micro Seiki for shure. The 91 was built to be a high quality deck. And a higher price to. The Rotels were just an after thought for Rotel. They needed a TT to go with their electronics.......

bogiedr · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Oct 2010, 12:52 am »

Thanks NeoBob and Audiosoul.
The 91 looks like a solid deck. Since there is the vinyl I have fostered for eons and the new, 180 grams and up vinyl, I thought each deserved a table. I am thinking a better cartdrige for the Micro, (Benz, Lyra, any reccomendations??) no clue here! I like huge soundstage and warmth!!
Thanks folks!
Hit them straight.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Oct 2010, 01:16 am »

I have a BL91 wth a rosewood base. Even the tonearm mounting plate is massive. I remember seeing a website where new belts could be purchased. Fine table. The medium output Benz Glider is high on everybody's list, I think. Heard one in action on a Linn. You probably want to get a mediium mass arm.

bogiedr · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Oct 2010, 12:41 am »

jimgoulden, you mean change the stock arm to something else?

maybe another sme or what brand would be reccomended? Thanks again and forgive my ignorance!

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Oct 2010, 12:59 am »

If the stock arm is a Micro Seiki MA-505 you should stick with that. When you get into high end tables, the arms are not assumed to be included. I would guess that Jim just assumed your 91 would come with no arm. No worries!

P.S. If you don't know what arm your 91 has on it post a pic. I've had a couple of Micro arms over the years.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Oct 2010, 01:03 am »

Agreed, absolutely. Didn't know you had an MS arm.

Delta Wave · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Oct 2010, 01:11 am »

I have a Rotel RP-3000 and after a new plinth and tons of dampening to the platter it's a great table. And it's now the proud owner of a Systemdek Profile II arm. It's hooked up to my PC to rip vinyl. It looked pretty as a stock deck but the platter rang like a church bell.

My main table is a 30 year old Luxman that runs perfectly and is built like a tank, by none other than Micro Seiki.

bogiedr · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Oct 2010, 01:20 am »

EricRex, jimgoulding, the MS comes with the MS 505 arm!! This is turning into a heck of a bargain!! Delta Wave, my main deck is a Luxman PX-100 fitted wth a Clear Audio Aurum Wood Classic. It has been perfect since 1980 something! Just looking for a deck to play old vinyl, (Luxman), and a deck for new high grade vinyl, (MS). Thought the MS would be great with a better cartdrige than the combo I currently have. This becoming easier by the minute! The cartdrige reccomendations are now crucial since I do not have a clue where to go!!

neobop · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Oct 2010, 08:36 pm »

The BL-91 came in 2 forms. The 91 came with a MA-701 arm.
The BL-91L came with a "universal" armboard that could be used with a number of different arms, including the MA-505. If you go to the link I provided (above), log in, and open the sales flyer, a list of arms is provided.

It most likely has a 701, but you never know. Whatever it has, I'm assuming you're getting a good deal on this. If that is the case, I'd recommend snatching it up. It looks like a really nice deck. I don't know anything about the 701 arm, but it's hard to imagine it being bad. Good luck, and let us know.
neo

bogiedr · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 10:08 pm »

Well the Seiki went south

so I am in the market for a compliment to my Luxman ... reccomendations? Technics, AR, Marantz, Pioneer, Denon ... looking vintage not a ClearAudio for a mortgage!!
Thanks for the input!!
Hit them straight.

neobop · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 11:17 pm »

Too bad about the MS.

I almost bought this guy about 4 times. It's just that I already have 5 TTs....
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1292265729&/Kenwood-KD-650

Most of the fancy wood plinths like Denon, JVC etc need modification to get the best from them - braces, clay - you have to get the cabinet and bottom panel to stop pretending they're a drum. Some of these vintage Kenwoods have a plinth made out of limestone resin. I have a KD-500 and it's really good. I use different arms on it. The arm on this 650 looks like it might be a little heavy. I'd guess that with a light headshell like a SL-1200, it would be in the med range. With a Sumiko shell (12g) it would probably be in the heavy range. I'm pretty sure this is a fully manual deck, so it would be easy to replace the arm. I'm not sure but I think you could do VTA on-the-fly with this. The range would be limited to 6mm, I think.
neo

Delta Wave · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 11:43 pm »

This one looks nice, I love... err... covet mine... it's solid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Luxman-PD-121U-PD121-Turntable-Grace-707-/270654244331?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f044005eb

Berndt · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 03:48 pm »

Micros are really cool, until you have to troubleshoot their motorcontrollers.
Parts availability can be very tough, not to mention pricey

bogiedr · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 01:35 am »

Berndt, thanks for that bit of information, not sure I want to mess with that at this stage of the game!

Delta Wave, funny you sent that link, I have been eyeing that table and have it on my list!!

I am also keeping an eye on a couple of Thorens and Duals. Hitting some estate sales this weekend to see what I may run into.
Thanks for the input as always.

Berndt · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 01:39 am »

Let me put in a plug for empires. I really like using the pabst ac motors.

Wayner · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 11:55 am »

If you don't mind DDs, I have to plug the Sony PS-X5 or the PS-X7. I also am a big fan of the Technics SL1200 series of tables, built like a tank, heavy (like 27 pounds) and have decent arms. They are also doing fine with the test of time.

Wayner

Delta Wave · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 02:53 pm »

Quote from: Berndt on 30 Oct 2010, 01:39 am

Let me put in a plug for empires. I really like using the pabst ac motors.

I love the Empire tables, I still want one... you can do a lot to those if you feel the need to tweak.

doug s. · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 04:26 pm »

empire tables rock. put a better arm on them, and they will compete w/decks that have an extra zero added on to the price. amhik...

the unsuspended empires are a lot easier to swap arm on; if you have a solid mounting platform for your turntable, they would make a good choice...

doug s.